“Opinion research is a dynamic science and Kayla has spent a great deal of time at the NRCC comparing best practices across the industry,” OnMessage Pollster and Partner Wes Anderson said. “She will bring a great skill set to our firm.”

Sulzer most recently served as NRCC polling director. She was a data analyst and deputy polling director for the committee during the 2012 cycle.

Sulzer joins fellow former top NRCC staffers Guy Harrison and Joanna Burgos at the company.

DNC Chairwoman Promotes Aide

Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla., recently promoted press secretary Mara Sloan to senior communications adviser. In this expanded role, Sloan will now split her time between Wasserman Schultz’s official House office and the Democratic National Committee, which Wasserman Schultz chairs.

N.J. GOP on the Hunt for New Chairman

The New Jersey Republican Party is on the hunt for a new chairman-designate. Gov. Chris Christie withdrew his support for Bill Stepien, the governor’s preferred chairman candidate on Jan. 9.

At issue for Christie was Stepien’s involvement in a scandal over a September traffic jam on the George Washington Bridge that lasted several days. He also ordered Stepien to “withdraw his consultancy with the Republican Governors Association.”

Per New Jersey political tradition, the state GOP committee signs off on the governor’s pick for chairman. As of press time, Christie had not announced a new nominee. Originally, New Jersey GOP members were scheduled to elect Stepien on Wednesday, according to The Newark Star-Ledger. The party did not return requests for comment on whether that date had changed.

Aides Join Opponents in Miss. Primary

Two House press aides recently joined opposing campaigns in the Mississippi Senate GOP primary.

Noel Fritsch, formerly the spokesman to Rep. Steve Stockman, R-Texas, has signed on as communications director for state Sen. Chris McDaniel, a tea-party-favored challenger to Cochran.

Meanwhile, Jordan Russell, communications director to Rep. Alan Nunnelee, R-Miss., announced last week that he will work on Sen. Thad Cochran’s re-election campaign. Elizabeth Parks will replace Russell in Nunnelee’s office.

N.M. Democrats Hire New Top Staffer

New Mexico Democratic Chairman Sam Bregman announced on Jan. 10 that Lissa Knudsen is the state party’s new executive director. Knudsen is a veteran of freshman Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s, D-N.M., 2012 campaign.

House Majority PAC Names New Hire

Democratic operative Emily Aden joined House Majority PAC last week as research director. Aden was a research director on Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe’s 2013 campaign and previously worked at the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.